Rory McIlroy hits back after breaking silence at US Open

An irritated Rory McIlroy aimed his frustration towards the media after he finally broke his silence at the US Open on Saturday.

In a tense exchange with reporters – his first at a major since winning the Masters after skipping media duties at the PGA Championship – McIlroy said: “I feel like I’ve earned the right to do whatever I want.”

For the first time since 2012, McIlroy has shot three consecutive over par rounds in a major and there was little room for optimism after an untidy 74 at Oakmont Country Club.

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When asked if his decision to skip media for six major successive rounds was down to his dip in form, the usually-available McIlroy replied: “No, not really. It’s more a frustration with you guys.”

In what way?

“I’m just, yeah, I don’t know,” he replied. “I have, I’ve been totally available for the last few years, and I’m not saying – maybe not you guys – but maybe more just the whole thing.”

McIlroy was asked if his frustration stemmed from his driver controversy at Quail Hollow last month.

Last week he admitted he was “p***ed off” that news of his club failing a regulation compliance check had leaked into the public domain.

The PGA of America informed McIlroy that his club was deemed non-conforming, but the rules dictate that these results should be confidential and it later emerged that several players, including the champion Scottie Scheffler, also had to swap out their drivers.

“I mean, that was a part of it,” McIlroy said. “Yeah, that was a part of it. But it’s not as if – like at Augusta I skipped you guys on Thursday, so yeah, again, it’s not if as if – it’s not out of the ordinary. I’ve done it before; I’m just doing it a little more often.”

It must be stressed that McIlroy did speak freely with reporters during last week’s Canadian Open, where he missed the cut amidst more driver woes in one of the worst results of his career.

But when it comes to the majors, it has been a totally different story.

There has been a suggestion that McIlroy might in fact be daring golf’s officialdom to take things into their own hands and make post-round media duties compulsory.

“No, I’m not daring them to do anything,” McIlroy said.

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“I hope they don’t change it because it would, you know – this is, it’s a nice luxury to have. But I’m just pointing out the fact that we have the ability to do it.”

McIlroy’s blunt assessment of this US Open, where he is 10-over par and has looked exasperated throughout, is “pretty average.”

“It’s much easier being on the cut line when you don’t really care if you’re here for the weekend or not,” he said, allowing a wry smile as he discussed a gritty fightback on Friday evening.

During that run, in which he impressively played his final 15 holes in two-under par, McIlroy hurled an iron and smashed up a tee marker.

“I was sort of thinking, do I really want two more days here or not?” he admitted. “So it makes it easier to play better when you’re in that mindset.”

Anyhow, in this mysterious post-Masters malaise, the plot thickens.

“I alluded to it in my pre-tournament press conference, you don’t really know how it’s going to affect you,” he said of his career Grand Slam win. “You don’t know how you’re going to react to such a – I wouldn’t say a life-altering occasion, but at least something that I’ve dreamt about for a long time.”

McIlroy then conceded: “I have felt a little flat on the golf course afterwards.”

The Ulsterman gave a telling response when asked for his thoughts on Sunday’s final round.

“Hopefully a round in under four and a half hours,” he sighed, “and get out of here.”

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.